TRANSLATION OF TWO J AT A K AS. 



By Louis de Zoysa, Maha Mudaliyar. 



I have the pleasure to lay before the Society translations 

 of two Jatakas, or anterior births of Buddha. 



The first of these is entitled " Nakkhatta J&takam" 

 (star-birth), and exposes the folly of believing in astrology. 

 The second is entitled " Nama-siddlii Jatakani' ' (name-luck- 

 birth \ and has reference to a belief in the luck or ill-luck of 

 a name. This superstition is still prevalent to some extent 

 amongst the Sinhalese, who not unfrequently consult the 

 astrologer in bestowing names on their children. This story 

 is a curious commentary on Burn's well-known lines, " What's 

 in a name," etc. ; and it will be seen that some of the expressions 

 in the Jataka, are almost identical with those of the Poet. 



The stories require no explanatory comments, and will 

 speak for themselves. I may however state here that every 

 Jataka consists of two parts, first the Vattamdna (or the pre- 

 sent story) • and secondly, the Atita (or the past story). The 

 former details the circumstances under which the latter was 

 related by Buddha. I have not thought it necessary to give a 

 full translation of ''the present story," as it is in these 

 instances almost identical with the " past story" or the Jataka, 



L. de Z. 



Nakkhatta Jatakam. 

 When Buddha resided at Jetavaua monastery, he spoke 

 the following verse respecting" an A'jrvako who prevented a 



